2007 Media Release - Dougal the Garbage Dump Bear

Following its sell-out season last year, Dougal the Garbage Dump Bear returns in this musical romp for toddlers in the Utzon Room from 11 to 22 July.

The Babies Proms series is one of Sydney Opera House’s longest running and most successful performance programs. Definitely the hottest ticket in town, Dougal the Garbage Dump Bear introduces two to five year olds to the joys of live music and storytelling through the magic of theatre.

Based on Matt Dray’s book of the same name, Dougal the Garbage Dump Bear was short-listed for the 2005 Children’s Council Book of the Year prize. Last year, we transformed Dougal into a touching and hilarious musical journey for kids aged two to five years old. Now it’s back – bigger and brighter than ever and starring the cabaret and musical sensation Hayden Tee.

Dray was inspired to write the story of Dougal when he was working at a garbage dump on the Gold Coast. He saw a pair of teddy bear legs sticking out of the rubbish at the tip and decided to retrieve them. After finding a few other toys Matt was inspired to write a children’s book.

The story is about Dougal, a shy little bear with a heart of gold who gets left out in the rain and ends up in the bin. But even though he’s down, Dougal is not out. He finds a new life and learns that sometimes bad luck can be your best friend.

After studying at NIDA, Hayden Tee went on to win the New York Award at the 2002 Sydney Cabaret Convention. Since then, he has had leading roles in South Pacific (Adelaide), Les Miserables (London) and Titanic – the Musical (Sydney). His own cabaret show, Muftee, opened in Sydney in 2003 for a three week season before going on to play to packed houses for a record breaking seven months.